UNI music professor conducts All-State Orchestra
Rebecca Burkhardt, professor of music at the University of Northern Iowa, received a prestigious honor by being named guest conductor at All-State Music Festival in Ames, in November. 
“The All-State Committee of the Iowa High School Music Association (IHSMA) usually invites nationally and internationally recognized conductors, and seldom invites an Iowa conductor,” said John Vallentine, director of the UNI School of Music. “This is a huge honor for Dr. Burkhardt.”
Burkhardt, director of UNI’s orchestral activities since 1988, said this year’s All-State Orchestra participated in “something extraordinary” with the premier of a new work, “Rhapsody No. 1: Wildflowers,” written by Joshua Reznicow, a UNI graduate who is the high school orchestra conductor at Cedar Rapids’ Linn-Mar High School.
“Conducting the 2004 Iowa All-State orchestra was a wonderful experience. The students were extremely prepared and I was so impressed at how well they took instruction and responded to my ideas. It was a pleasure being part of more than 200 students’ music-making experience,” Burkhardt said.
Burkhardt also will direct the Iowa All-State Orchestra this July when it plays for the National Governors Association meeting in Des Moines. They will play on the steps of the State Capitol.
Burkhardt has appeared as guest conductor of the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, Waterloo/Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra and Opera Illinois, and also as music director of the Northern Iowa Youth Orchestra and the Dubuque Youth Symphony. A native of Texas, she earned a Bachelor of Music degree in horn performance from Southwestern University, a Master of Music Education degree from the University of North Texas and a Ph.D. from the University of Texas, Austin.
John Goossen to be interim head of UNI Marketing & Public Relations
John Goossen, former publisher of the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, has been appointed interim assistant vice president for Marketing & Public Relations. He replaces Gerald Anglum, who died in November.
Goossen will lead the university’s integrated marketing efforts and will oversee the Office of University Marketing & Public Relations.
“John brings a wealth of management, media and leadership experience that will greatly benefit this department and the university,” said Bill Calhoun, vice president for University Advancement.
Calhoun said a search for a permanent replacement is expected to begin this spring.
In addition to his work with the Courier, Goossen also published newspapers in Topeka, Kan., Grand Island, Neb., and Hannibal, Mo. He has a B.A. from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
24 scholarships awarded at Science, Math and Technology Symposium
Seventeen Iowa high-school seniors received full-tuition scholarships to UNI during the 42nd annual Science, Math and Technology Symposium in November.
Another seven scholarships of between $500 and $2,000 were awarded to other symposium participants.
Keynote speaker was Randy Dumse, ’75, who received the Science Symposium Prize for Physics during the 1970 event. He is founder and owner of New Micros Inc., a high-tech company in Dallas that provides computer systems to DEC, IBM, AT&T, major U.S. auto manufacturers and many other companies. He spoke on how his education at UNI opened the doors for him to become a successful entrepreneur.
The symposium is designed to foster interest in the areas of science, math and technology, and serves as an introduction to faculty and programs in the College of Natural Sciences. Each year, hundreds of Iowa high school students, their teachers, counselors and parents attend the symposium.
UNI dedicates new Follon Student Services Center
The University of Northern Iowa recently dedicated its new Follon Student Services Center, located on the upper level of Gilchrist Hall.
Sue Follon was the first woman to be named a vice president at UNI. She served as vice president for Educational & Student Services from 1985, until her death from lung cancer in 1998. Renee Romano, who succeeded Follon, said a hallmark of Follon’s tenure was working to enrich the educational experience of students.
Follon maintained close connections to many students and was an untiring advocate of a student-centered university. Students and their development were her central focus and came first in all policies, programs and decisions.
The Follon Student Services Center began operation Aug. 16, 2004, in the newly renovated upper level of Gilchrist Hall. It offers centralized services in financial aid, billing, student accounts, advising, career services, registration and academic records. Jon Buse, assistant dean of students/director of new student programs, manages day-to-day operations of the center.
Follon received her B.S. degree from Iowa Wesleyan College, her Master of Arts in college student personnel services from UNI in 1970, and her Ed.D. degree in higher education administration from Drake University in 1983. Before coming to UNI, she was executive director of the Iowa Commission on the Status of Women, assistant dean of students and coordinator of student activities at Buena Vista University, director of Campbell Hall at UNI, and a teacher at Delmar High School.
Haack named interim dean of UNI’s College of Natural Sciences
Joel Haack, professor, Department of Mathematics, has been named interim dean of the College of Natural Sciences (CNS), effective Jan. 1, 2005. Kichoon Yang, who had served as dean of the college since 2001, recently resigned to become provost at Northwest Missouri State University.
 Haack holds a B.A. in mathematical sciences, an M.S. in mathematics, an M.S. in statistics and a doctorate in mathematics, all from the University of Iowa. He came to UNI in 1991 as a professor of mathematics and head of the former Department of Mathematics and Computer Science. In 1992, when the departments split, he headed the Department of Mathematics, and later served as interim dean of the CNS for a year. Previous to coming to UNI, he was at Oklahoma State University.
Aaron Podolefsky, UNI Executive Vice President and Provost, said the university plans to hire a permanent dean before the fall 2005 semester begins.
Rare international internship offers a host of opportunities
In today’s labor market, internship experiences help students gain an edge. For those whose dreams include the global arena, an international internship can be the trump card for landing a dream job. That’s why three UNI College of Business Administration (CBA) students jumped at the chance to live and work, without pay, in China for a year. Amanda Jensen (Economics), John Kellenberger (Finance ’04) and Jesse Severson (Management ’04) are now in Changchun, China, serving in internships with First Automobile Works (FAW) Import-Export Group.
Known as the “General Motors of China,” FAW produced a million autos and trucks last year. UNI’s interns are placed with FAW’s import-export department, which offers a chance to learn international business from the Chinese perspective.
The learning opportunities have been truly exceptional. Severson and Jensen have been assigned to a Web development project for FAW to ensure that its writing meets business-English standards. Severson has worked to help FAW register with the U.N. Procurement Division. Kellenberger spent time at FAW and also the Construction Bank of China.
FAW provides the students with housing and meals during the work week. To meet expenses, the students teach English classes and have found the Chinese to be very interested in learning about U.S. culture. The “English Corner,” provided by Kellenberger and Severson, provides a setting for FAW workers to hear about things not typically learned in school. Kellenberger said, “They’ve asked us what weddings are like, and how many girlfriends we have, among other things. It’s a time for them to relax and have some fun after a long day, and we get to know them a little better.”
Jensen has found her teaching experience at Bai Da Wei rewarding. “They (Chinese students) are so interested in learning about America and showing me Chinese culture,” she said. “On Teacher’s Day, one of my 8-year-old students came to me and said he was sorry he couldn’t bring me a gift. He didn’t have enough money, but he thought I was a great teacher! It really made my day, and was better than any gift he could have bought.”
While UNI students are immersed in Chinese culture, employees from FAW are doing the same at UNI. As part of the exchange, FAW employees travel to Iowa for six months to engage in U.S.-style internships, attend UNI classes and improve their business English.
Internship placements for FAW employees have included the UNI Metal Casting Center, the John Deere Ag Division, the Gallager-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center and Waterloo Black Hawks Hockey. Two FAW students are working with the Iowa Department of Economic Development to help Iowa businesses find opportunities in China.
Yangtong Shen, currently with the Black Hawks, said, “I have learned from my friends here about sports promotions, American culture, and how to communicate with Americans. I will go back to China in a couple of months and I hope I can improve my job performance through this experience.”
In six months the UNI students will return to Iowa. They hope to work with employers looking for international business experience not usually found among entry-level applicants. Meanwhile, the CBA is seeking aditional placements for FAW employees. To explore opportunities, contact Leslie Wilson, associate dean of the College of Business Administration.
Farzad Moussavi, dean of the College of Business Administration, said, “This is a program where every participant wins. The CBA advances its commitment to internationalize students’ experience, and student-interns enhance their employment potential with firsthand knowledge of business in China. Local firms benefit from FAW manager-interns’ international expertise, and Chinese manager-interns learn how business is done in the U.S., China’s most important trading partner.”
 Daryl Smith, professor of biology and director of UNI’s Native Roadside Vegetation Center, co-produced a feature-length documentary, “American’s Lost Landscape: The Tallgrass Prairie,” tracing the prairie’s transformation from natural landscape to farmland.
The documentary premiered at UNI’s Lang Hall last April. It was written, directed and co-produced by David O’Shields of New Light Media and narrated by Cedar Falls native and critically acclaimed actress Annabeth Gish. Breathtaking cinematography, original music and moving narrative are used to tell the story of Iowa’s prairies, which began in the early 1800s when Iowa was blanketed by 28 million acres of tallgrass. “At the time of settlement in the 1820s, about 240 million acres of tallgrass prairie was a major landscape feature of North America,” Smith said. “But in one of the most astonishing alterations of nature in human history, most of the tallgrass prairie was converted to cropland in less than 80 years.” 
More than 400 people viewed the film, in December at the Iowa Public Television studio in Des Moines. Nearly 150 guests joined President Robert Koob at a reception hosted by UNI alumnus David Oman, director of The Environmental Project, and David Hurd, retired chairman and CEO of Principal Financial Group.
Additionally, The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation has offered a $5,000 challenge grant to raise the remaining $40,000 for production expenses and educational materials. Contributions may be made to the University of Northern Iowa Foundation, designating the gift for “America’s Lost Landscape.” To make a gift through a secure online pledge form, visit the UNI Foundation’s Web site at www.uni-foundation.org or the project’s Web site at www.uni.edu/~lostland.
DVD or VHS copies of the film may be purchased online at the project’s Web site.
Koppensteiner recognized as Outstanding German Educator
The American Association of Teachers of German (AATG) has awarded Jurgen Koppensteiner, professor of German at UNI, its “Outstanding German Educator and Checkpoint Charlie Foundation Scholarship Award” for 2004.
The award is given annually by the AATG to three instructors, one at either the elementary, middle school or junior high level; one at the high school level and the third to a college/university instructor.
Koppensteiner was recognized for his participation in professional organizations, contribution to German language education and continued growth as a German educator.
In conjunction with the award, Koppensteiner will attend a one-week seminar in Berlin, courtesy of the Checkpoint Charlie Foundation. The foundation was started by The Berlin State House of Representatives to support friendly German-American ties.
Introducing PAWS—UNI’sPersonalized Admissions Web Site
With a renewed university-wide focus on increasing admissions, UNI has created a personalized Web site to help prospective students learn more about UNI and assist in the college decision-making process. Personalized Admissions Web Site or PAWS provides interactive communication between the student’s personal interests and what UNI has to offer.
Located at www.uni.edu/paws, it features four main areas of information—academics, student organizations, financial aid and residence life. It also offers student, faculty and alumni profiles, as well as the ability to save the personalized site.
“PAWS can assist future college students in exploring majors and activities outside the classroom, finding a campus job and imagining what life on a college campus will be like,” says Renee Romano, vice president for educational & student services.
For more information, contact UNI’s Admissions Office at 800-772-2037. |
